Gangster movies are meant both to entertain and to draw public attention to social problems. “The Godfather” is created by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972, and it portrays the story of the Sicilian crime dynasty located in New York.
Coppola depicts the issues of crime from the perspective of the criminal group insiders. Although at some points, the main characters of “The Godfather” are represented as honored and fair, the analysis of the events constituting the movie’s plot makes it clear that individual criminal behavior can be supported by the social environment or family members, and that the actions criminals undertake on the way to the success of their business create huge problems in the society as they violate human and civil rights.
The attractive representation of the mafia in “The Godfather” is rather fictitious than real. Even so, Coppola successfully adverts the issues of crime pervasion to the social and political institutions, the corruptibility of authorities, and inefficiency of jurisdiction. According to Coppola, politicians and police officers play a key role in the support and proliferation of crime.
Coppola’s perspective on crime is partly realistic. The criminals are shown as ordinary people who have emotions, weaknesses, and moral principles. Mafia is endued with the features that provoke sympathy and seem attractive. These features do not correspond to reality, but the corruption and injustice that are part of the movie’s plot seem to be real. Coppola also efficiently depicts the reasons that can cause engagement in criminal activities. The circumstances, relationships, and social environment increase the risks for even a good person to become engaged in crime.